The World Health Organization has issued a red alert to 12 countries worldwide regarding hantavirus in order to warn about the possible risk of the virus spreading.
According to details, before severe symptoms of hantavirus appeared, some passengers had already disembarked from the ship and returned to their respective countries, raising concerns that a hantavirus outbreak could spread in those nations. On Thursday, the WHO confirmed 5 hantavirus cases linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, while a total of 8 cases of severe respiratory illness had been reported.
According to foreign media, 5 individuals were affected by the hantavirus infection. The 12 countries for which the World Health Organization issued the red alert include Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Singapore, Türkiye, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The development has caused concern among health experts, and the WHO chief also held a media briefing on the matter.
The head of the World Health Organization said that if immediate and appropriate measures are taken to protect public health, the spread of hantavirus can be limited. However, investigations into the ship’s passengers and their contacts are ongoing, and there are fears that more cases may emerge. It is worth recalling that in the past, the coronavirus caused devastation across the world, including Pakistan, and the effects of lockdowns are still being felt by the global economy.
